Choose a Safe Vehicle for a Teenager

A teenage driver's first car is an exciting experience for him/her and a scary one for parents. It's important to find a car that will keep teen drivers safe and happy while they learn to navigate the road and improve their driving skills. Learn a few tips for how to choose a safe vehicle for a teenager so you both feel good about the vehicle selection.


Steps

  1. Remember that size does matter.
    • When you choose a car for a teen driver, it's best to go for something in the mid-size range. Smaller or compact cars tend to have higher accident crash rates, while larger vehicles. like trucks or SUVs. could be too large for a first-time driver to handle.
  2. Opt for a newer vehicle.
    • Most parents that buy a car for a teen driver choose a used vehicle, because they're inexpensive. But newer vehicles have more up-to-date safety features that can protect a teenager in the event of an accident. Choosing a brand new vehicle isn't necessary, but make sure the car you choose is less than 10 years old so it has current safety and stability features.
  3. Look for safety features.
    • When you choose a vehicle for a teenager, find one that has as many safety features as possible. These include a reinforced frame; front, passenger and side air bags; and roll bars. These features will all help keep your teenager safe in the event of an accident.
  4. Check out crash test ratings.
    • Look into crash test and safety ratings on the model and year of vehicle you're considering before you make a purchase. Cars are tested before being released for sale and rated on their ability to withstand front, back and side collisions, which will help you establish whether the car is safe for your teen driver.
  5. Limit horsepower.
    • Choose a vehicle that doesn't offer maximum horsepower and that isn't the fastest car on the road. Teens will have a tendency to drive fast just because they're new drivers; choosing a car for them with a standard level of horsepower will help keep them at a safe speed.
  6. Request a vehicle history report.
    • If you choose a used or pre-owned vehicle for your teenage driver, request a vehicle history report before you make a purchase. This report (such as a CarFax) will list any accidents the vehicle has been involved in along with any other major damage, like flood or fire, that has occurred.
  7. Take it for a test drive.
    • One of the best ways to determine if a vehicle is right for your teenager is to test drive it with them. Observe how capable they are in handling the vehicle when braking and turning, how easy the manual controls are for them to use and how comfortable they seem when operating the vehicle. This will give you a good idea of whether the size, maneuverability and speed of the vehicle is right for your teen driver.



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References

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